Underground conduit for electric wires



-v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1., W.-F. SMITH. UNDERGROUND OONDUIT FORELEGTRIGIWIRES. No. 382,778.

(No Model.)

Patented May 15-. 18881 (N0M0'd1j I ghegysnee izf W. P. SMITH.

, UNDERGROUND GONDUIT-POR ELBQTRIG WIRES.

Patented may'l's l's'ss.

I Q r v I A H UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFI WALTER F. SMITH, orPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

UNDERGROUND CONDUIT FOR ELECTRIC WIRES.

description, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making parthereof. I

The nature of my invention willfully appear from the followingspecification and claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical crosssectional view of my devicewith electric-railway slot; Fig. 2, a detached view of one of thehand-hole covers; Fig. 3, a perspective view of my device; Fig. 4., alongitudinal, vertical sectional view of thesame.

My conduitis formed of an elongated doubleshelled arch composed ofcurved upperplates, A, and concentrically-curved lower plates, B.

(J O are longitudinal fins or partitions separating the chambers D D ofthe conduit. They are cast upon or secured to the lower series ofarch-plates, B B. I

E E F F are downwardly-projecting longitudinal plates from the upper andlower series of arch-plates, 1A and B.

G is a brace rod or stringer provided with a head or thread and nut atone end and a thread and nut at the other. at short intervals beneaththe conduit, extending from side plates, E, to plates E, also passingthrough intermediate plates,, F F. The rods G bind and strengthen thestructure of the conduit, and with the upper and lower shells, A and B,form a trussed arch.

H is a detachable plate arched so as to conform to the curve of shell A,of which it forms a part; I, a transverse ridge formed in plate H,terminating at the two opposite edges thereof.

J are lateral openings cut in the upper edges of fins 0 0 immediatelybeneath the ridge I in plate H.

K K are lateral nozzles formed by project ing parts of detachable platesH and side plates, E. Excepting the detachable sections H, the uppershell is cast in one piece with side plates, EE, and the lower shell, B,is cast in one piece with inner plates, F F.

L L are foundation walls, of stone, brick,

These rods G are placed SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Pat t No.382,778, dated May 15, 1888. I

7 Application filed January 24, 1888.

Serial No. 261,754. (No model.)

concrete, or any suitable material, which form a foundation for thearch.

M is an inner space beneath the arch or conduit, which may be utilizedfor any de I sired purpose.

The conduit is designed to communicate with man-holes or working-holesat various points, and the longitudinal chambers D Dare provided withinsulated electric wires or cables by methods well known to thoseskilled in the art. The detachable plates H are set at intervals in theline of conduit and are designed to facilitate the passing out of wiresor making connections with those in the conduit for side branches, orfor carrying theminto buildings, or for street-lighting. When a plate,H, is

removed, the openings J J in partitions O 0' permit the handling of anywire or cable in any of the passages or chambers D D, and the spaceformed by these openings and ridge I, which is concave below, (see Figs.2,) permits the operative to carry the wire or cable but laterally fromany space D through either side nozzle,K or K. If desired, the ridge Imay be dispensed with and the openings J may be made large enough tofurnish space to carry the wire to the side nozzle, or the openings Jinthe partitions may be dispensed with and the necessary space may befurnished by the hollow ridge I in plate H.

N N (in cross-section, Fig. 1) are two. longitudinal plates with an openspace or groove between; These plates arefsecured to thetop of the archand may be used for an electric railway. I

The side nozzles, K and K, are each formed in two halves, or of twosemicircles in cross section, and are each tapered toward the mouth.

A wrought-iron or steel ring, 0, is forced over each of these tapered'nozzles and binds the two halves together.

What I claim as new is 1. A sectional conduit for electric wires,

' composed of double arch A B, fins 0, attached to one of the arches andforming long chambersD D to receive the wires, substantially asdescribed. V

2. A sectional conduit for electric wires, composed of double arch'AB,fins 0, attached to one of the arches and forming long cham bers D D toreceive the wires, said conduit being provided with spaces J J atintervals between the upper edges of the fins and the roofing or arch A,and side openings, K, whereby a wire from any one chamber in the conduitmay be carried or led out of the side opening, substantially asdescribed.

3. A subway for electric wires, composed of double arch A B, fins 0,attached to one of the arches to strengthen the same, brace-rod G, withits screw and nut to truss and strengthen the double arch, substantiallyas described.

4. A sectional conduit for electric wires, composed of double arch A B,detachable plate-sections H, with side-tapered nozzles K, and rings 0,adapted to be driven onto 15 the tapered nozzle and tighten thejoiut,substantially as described.

5. A sectional conduit for electric wires, provided with removableplates H, side-tapering nozzles K, and rings 0, to secure the partstogether, substantially as described.

In witness that the above is my invention I have hereunto set my hand.

W'ALTER F. SMITH.

Witnesses:

WM. H. CARSON, H. V. BUoKLEY.

